Sampdoria tell Liverpool to cut Mario Balotelli’s £7.1m asking price

Italian outfit Sampdoria have reportedly told Liverpool to slash Mario Balotelli’s £7.1m asking price if they want to move him on this summer, according to the Daily Telegraph.

The temperamental striker arrived on Merseyside 12 months ago for a fee of £16m (via BBC) but after a return of just one league goal last season coupled with the £32.5m arrival of Christian Benteke from Aston Villa (via Sky Sports) The Reds are believed to be keen on moving him out during the current transfer window.

However, despite The Telegraph reporting that the Italian international is on the market for less than what Liverpool initially paid for him, one interested party, Sampdoria, aren’t willing to meet their valuation.

Goal.com claim that Samp are keen on bringing Balotelli back to Serie A, but club president Massimo Ferrero has stated that The Reds will need to continue cutting their asking price.

“They told me that Mario was yesterday in Genoa,” Ferrero said. “He costs €10m but, with discount, you look with open arms.”

Balotelli faces even greater competition for a place in the Liverpool first team this season. Not only has Brendan Rodgers added Benteke to his forward line, but he is joined by Belgian youngster Divock Origi, England u21 front man Danny Ings, and he has a returning Daniel Sturridge to contend with.